Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The almost last roundup
John R. Erickson
The almost last roundup
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John R. Erickson
Illustrated by Holmes, Gerald L., illustrator
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The ranch is facing its toughest summer yet as water runs low and the land turns dry and dusty. With ponds gone and a prairie fire raging, the animals and people must find hope while waiting for much-needed rain. Adventure and determination fill the air as the drought challenges everyone to come together.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated The almost last roundup 9LE
The almost last roundup is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 770L across 127 pages (approximately 21,479 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The almost last roundup works for readers up to grade 6.7.
Read aloud, The almost last roundup runs about 2.4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The almost last roundup as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, The almost last roundup explores animals, ranch life, adventure, and nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about animals, ranch life, adventure.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Hank the Cowdog series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
5/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781591882657
- Pages
- 127
- Publisher
- Maverick Books, Inc.
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 21,479
- Lexile
- 770L
- Read-Aloud
- ~2h 23m
- Text Density
- Standard